Abstract

A satellite-to-satellite laser interferometer is essential for a future gravity-field mission to improve the accuracy and spatial resolution of the Earth’s gravity model. We have designed a ground-based simulator of a satellite-to-satellite interferometer, which aims to evaluate instrument error reflecting on the accuracy of the gravity-field retrieval and achieve the essential technologies required to measure the intersatellite range rate. The developed simulator was successfully operated with a range-rate sensitivity of in the measurement band of . From a primary demonstration, it was confirmed to be available for experimental simulation of the satellite-to-satellite interferometer in the laboratory. The simulator will be a powerful tool for establishing guidelines for the development of future gravity missions.

Received 07 March 2005Accepted 17 October 2005Published online 14 December 2005

Acknowledgments:

The authors would like to thank I. Naito, T. Tsuda, and Y. Fukuda for their efforts in starting this project. We are also indebted to H. Ito and Y. Li for their support of the frequency stability measurements, and together with T. Kubo-oka, K. Yamamoto, and T. Otsubo for preparing the simulation signals. This work was supported by Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.